Russian Bridge Damaged in Mysterious Blast

UKRAINE – A mysterious explosion consumed two sections of the only bridge linking the occupied Crimean Peninsula to Russia on Saturday, disrupting the most important supply line for Russian troops fighting in southern Ukraine and dealing a shameful blow to the Kremlin, which is facing continued losses on the battlefield and mounting criticism at home.

The blast sent part of the 12-mile Kerch bridge toppling into the sea, killing at least three people, according to Russian authorities, who said a Ukrainian truck bomb had caused the blast.

The Ukrainian government, which applauded the damage, did not publicly take responsibility for the explosion.

One senior Ukrainian official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of a ban on officials discussing matter, said that Ukraine’s intelligence services had orchestrated the attack and that it involved a bomb loaded onto a truck that drove across the bridge.